Central government protecting Bajrang Dal: Mayawati

Lucknow, Aug 27 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday accused the central government of attempting to protect Bajrang Dal for its alleged involvement in Sunday’s Kanpur blast that left two people dead.She was responding to Tuesday’s statement by Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal suggesting that Mayawati recommend an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the Kanpur blasts.

“None of the more serious blasts, where the loss of life and property was higher than in Kanpur, was handed over to the CBI for investigation,” she told reporters here Wednesday.

Mayawati was referring to the alleged terror attacks in Varanasi, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur and Rampur.

She alleged that the central government’s asking her to recommend a CBI inquiry in the Kanpur blasts showed it “wanted to protect the Bajrang Dal, which is an ally of the BJP.”

On Monday, police recovered some crude hand grenades, lead oxide, red lead, potassium nitrate, bomb pins, timers and batteries from the spot, inside the hostel in Kalyanpur area of Kanpur, about 80 km from here.